Wednesday ... also known as "hump day" because it's downhill to the weekend!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... this is, technically, part 2 of 2 as I used the inks recently and was able to take two impressions (and this is the second impression) - there is a link to the earlier make contained within the materials list below

And, elsewhere on the card .. pic 2

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white, hot pressed water colour card and pearl grey, for my card front, inset and matting layer
• Snippet of pearl grey card, to die cut the flower
• Unbranded (Amazon) floral dies to cut my grey flower
• Distress Inks: mustard seed, picked raspberry and wilted violet pressed on to an acrylic block, spritzed with water and then "smooshed" on to my water colour card before setting aside to dry. This was the second impression and the card made using the 1st impression may be seen here.
• Uniko sentiment (from "Anniversaire art decoratif" from 2020, a gift from a pal) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Since I used a die on the card front I obviously didn't want to use a die cut on the insert and envelope so stamped the Pink & Main image I felt matched well (from PM0554 - from 2023) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink and shown in pic 2 above
• Finally, a quick spritz of Crafters Companion Spray and Shine, to protect those water based inks

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Lil Patch of Creative Friends - challenge No. 285 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 9 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Sweet Stampin' - September 12th challenge - CAS (Clean And Simple)
4. Love to Craft - challenge No. 94 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Ally's Angels - challenge No. 110 - ANYTHING GOES

Monday, another week - make it a good one!

Morning readers,

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend - did the weather put a damper on your plans? We were dog sitting and had to keep a towel by both the front and back door!

I've a make to share with you today ... another Artist Trading Card - I am woefully short of them, rather like I've fallen behind on my Christmas card quota too ... guess you know what you'll be starting to see a lot of in the near future then!??!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in red and white
• Clearly Besotted sentiment (from "Hang around") stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Amazon unbranded "swipe" (from STO19181) stamped twice using Versafine Clair paradise ink
• Inkadinkado Santa and Sleigh image (from 60-30984) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Marvy le plume II alcohol marker (red), to edge the ATC
• Stardust stickle "stars"

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Merry Little Christmas - challenge No. 70 - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES
2. Love to Craft - challenge No. 94 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 329 - ANYTHING GOES
4. CraftyCatz - challenge No. 719 - ANYTHING GOES
5. The Little Things - challenge No. 08 - SQUIRREL or ANYTHING GOES

I was a lucky TOP3 over at Addicted to CAS for their challenge No. 315 - ANNIVERSARY, thanks so much peeps, I really appreciate it.

Saturday - have a great weekend!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... an "occasion free" water coloured card which I THINK would be suitable for so very many occasions that I wanted to leave the sentiment till I was ready to mail it. I made a second impression on water colour paper too, so ... expect to see that in the coming week or so!

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in textured lavender, white, and Daler Rowney hot pressed water colour card
• Using a square acrylic block, I pressed Distress Inks in mustard seed, picked raspberry and wilted violet before spritzing with water and then pressing on to my water colour card (I repeated this a second time, the ink was obviously lighter but ... you can see the two "prints" below) and set them both aside to dry
• Clearly Inspired coneflower image (from LCS100) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Stardust stickles - to add a little sparkle
• A quick spritz of Crafters Companion spray and shine, to seal the water based inks

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Ellibelle's Garden Party - challenge No. 19 - ANYTHING IN OR FROM THE GARDEN
2. Little Red Wagon - challenge No. 875 - USE A STAMP
3. Simon Says Stamp - Monday challenge - STAMPtember
4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2636 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Creative Friday - challenge No. 420 - SIMPLE

TGIF! Here comes the weekend!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... an Artist Trading Card which used rather a lot of snippets, giving quite a lot of texture to my ATC too!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card: black, white, grey, grey/green, red and monochrome Designer Paper
• Inkadinkado image (from 60-30164) stamped on to white snippet using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Faber Castell polychromos pencils used to colour image
• Stardust stickles - to add some sparkle and texture to the bloom

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Little Red Wagon - challenge No. 875 - USE A STAMP
2. Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday challenge - ADD SOME TEXTURE
3. Word Art Wednesday - challenge No. 768/9 - ANYTHING GOES (the word is "friendship"
4. Ellibelle's Garden Party - challenge No. 19 - ANYTHING IN OR FROM THE GARDEN
5. Everybody Art - challenge No. 605 - ATC (Artist Trading Card)

I was a lucky top pick over at Kleuren met Potloden for their August challenge, thank you so much, glad you liked my make

Wednesday, we're already half way through the week!

Morning readers,

Lovely day with my pal yesterday, we had a coffee and a chat, followed by lunch and more chat and then another drink and ... you guessed it, more chat, it was smashing to just chill.

I've a make to share with you today, monochrome but with a pop of colour and sparkle ... another chance to use plenty of snippets too! Woo Hoo! 

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and black, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippets of card in white, textured black, textured red and DCWV glitter stack
• Clearly Inspired image (from LCS100 - "brushed flowers") and sentiments by both MFT  (CS.74) and CRASPIRE (WHO167-57-0250) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne inks
• I cut out the "BIRTHDAY" to attach to the front and the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" sentiment was used elsewhere on the card and envelope
• Stardust stickles on the rose "petals" to add some celebratory sparkle

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. AAA Birthday - challenge No. 89 - USE PATTERNED PAPER
2. Lost Coast Portal to Creativity - challenge No. 213 - BLACK, WHITE + ONE (I used a matting layer of red)
3. Triple B - September challenge - ANYTHING BIRDS/BUTTERFLIES/BLOOMS + (optional) MOOD BOARD
4. Love Those Pretty Papers - September challenge - ANYTHING GOES using Designer Papers + (optional) FALL FLORALS
5. Creative Knockouts - challenge No. 578 - LOTS OF LAYERS (5 here)

Monday again - have a good week

Morning readers,

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend, for us it was a weekend with zero plans so ... we just took it gently!

I've a make to share with you today ... an Artist Trading Card using some of my box FULL of snippets, ranging in size from the tiny to the not quite card size! I intend to try and use the entire pile of the snippets in the photo below my materials list - wish me luck!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card: Plain black/white and polka dot/Congratulations designer paper - from the selection in the photo below
• Inkadinkado coneflower image (from 60-30164 "flowers" - from before 2021 though I can't say how much before!) stamped on to a white snippet using Versafine Clair nocturne ink, coloured using Faber Castell Polychromos pencils and then cut out, leaving a white border
• Stardust stickles, to add a little sparkle to the flower and surrounding polka dots

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Snippets Playground - challenge No. 540 - USE SNIPPETS
2. Paper-Rocks-Scissors - challenge No. 20 - ANYTHING GOES but MUST use paper and scissors
3. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 328 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Creative Knockouts - challenge No. 578 - LOTS OF LAYERS (5 here)
5. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 9 - ANYTHING GOES

Saturday and it's another weekend!

Morning readers,

It's the weekend and ... we have NOTHING planned!! The World is our oyster!

I've a make to share with you today ... using numerous snippets and it turned out to be monochrome with a pop of colour!

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and black
• Snippets of card/paper: black, white and mid blue along with some dotty Designer Paper
• Aall & Create image and sentiment (from set #628) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink

Some of the snippets I am TRYING to use up!

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 328 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Pattie's Creations - challenge No. 246 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Passions Carte Creatives - challenge No. 962 - CREATE A CARD USING SCRAPS
4. Creative Knockouts - challenge No. 578 - LOTS OF LAYERS (5 here)
5. Creative Inspiration - challenge No. 42 - ANYTHING GOES

TGIF - hope you all have something nice to look forward to at the weekend.

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... another Artist Trading Card.

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in kraft and white
• Using a Tim Holtz mini domed blender I applied Distress Inks: Broken China, Salty ocean and Chipped sapphire. I added highlights with Blueprint sketch
• I sprayed some water on to my fingers before "flicking" on to my ATC, giving it time to develop (i.e. lift colour) before mopping the excess with paper towel and setting aside to dry
• Rubbadubbadoo pocket watch image (I've had for so long ... it says 2002 on the side but no sign of a reference) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• A quick spritz of Crafters Companion spray and shine, to protect the water based inks

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Tagalong and ATC's - Sept challenge - CIRCLES or ANYTHING GOES ... there are numerous circles on my pocket watch
2. Love to Craft - challenge No. 94 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 328 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Retro Rubber - challenge No. 279 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday challenge - STAMP IT

I'm quite behind with my Christmas cards this year but, having been selected as a TOP3 over at the August Rudolph Day challenge, I HOPE it might bump start my Christmas mojo - thanks so much to the design team

Wednesday - what's occurrin'?

Morning readers,

And welcome to my first post in September! The year is simply racing away with me!

I've a make to share with you today ..... a guy card for a teen

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and navy, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippets of card in white, for my image, football and sentiment
• I borrowed the stamp set with the footballer, the football, along with the matching dies, they're from Made to Surprise. I stamped them using Versafine Clair nocturne ink and die cut them, colouring the image with Faber Castell polychromos pencils
• Polkadoodles numbers (from PD8026 - Feb 2024 - NBUS) stamped using Versafine Clair twilight ink - OMG! Those numbers were fiddly - I started trying to use the smaller numbers but gave up eventually! I'm gonna go out on a limb and say those numbers may never again see the light of day!
• MFT "Birthday" (from CS.74) stamped using Versafine Clair twilight ink on to a white snippet which I then fussy cut out
• Elsewhere on the card I used the CRASPIRE "Happy Birthday) (From WHO167-57-0250) using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• On my card front I used the borrowed grid stencil (for the "football net" and Distress Ink in blueprint sketch, applied with a makeup brush

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Stencil Fun - September challenge - ANYTHING STENCILLED GOES + (optional) YELLOW
2. NBUS - challenge No. 90 - USE NBUS
3. Simon Says Stamp - Monday challenge - GET IN SHAPE ... well, footie will get you in shape!!
4. GirlzMakeGuyzCardz - challenge No. 42 - SPORTS
5. Love to Craft - challenge No. 94 - ANYTHING GOES

Here's a bit of nostalgia for you ... I was looking back at some of my older blog posts, and came across one from 2011. I had entered the Simply Less Is More challenge, which I used to love, and I had FORTY FIVE comments!!! Those were the days! I don't get anywhere near that level of comments any more, now it's a good day if I get to double figures - though I appreciate every single one of those comments. Do people not blog as much or am I just more out of touch with crafting than I thought?

Monday - Woo Hoo! A fresh, new week!

Morning readers,

I hope you are enjoying your Bank Holiday weekend (in the UK), shame about the weather but ... it's been so long since it's rained that I almost wanted to just stand out in it!

I've a make to share with you today ... this was one of those that started with the sentiment and then the pocket watch ... it looked like it needed something extra so I added the ink and then the clock faces .... on reflection the clock faces should have been less intrusive but hey .... it COULD have worked! You have to try these things .... don't you?

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white and black
• Close To My Heart sentiment and clock face (from D1257) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne and morning mist inks
• Handprints pocket watch image (C2016) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Using a Tim Holtz mini blender that still had some brown/red Distress Inks on ... I applied a light layer of colour to the ATC, taking as much care as possible to not over ink the pocket watch
• A quick spritz of Crafters Companion Spray and Shine, to protect the Distress Inks

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 8 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Gem of a challenge - challenge No. 8 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 328 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Pattie's Creations - challenge No. 245 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Creative Inspirations - August challenge - ANYTHING GOES

Saturday - welcome to the bank holiday weekend - ENJOY!

Morning readers,

It's a Bank Holiday weekend so it should come as no surprise that ... it's RAINING! Gardens desperate for some quality rain but ... honestly ... it's a holiday weekend!!!

I've a make to share with you today ... another anniversary card for a commission. It was Quick, Clean And Simple AND used a couple of my growing (again) collection of snippets!

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and red, for my card front, insert and matting layer
• Snippets of card in white and red, for my image panel
• Carabelle hearts image (from SA60156 - from 2017) stamped on to my snippet using Versafine Clair strawberry ink
• MFT sentiment (from CS.794 - from 2023) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Stardust stickles to trace around the three hearts and to add some celebratory sparkle!

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Addicted to CAS - challenge No. 315 - ANNIVERSARY
2. Little Red Wagon - challenge No. 873 - ANYTHING TIME THREE
3. HQCL - challenge No. 87 - ANYTHING WITH A HEART GOES + (optional) RED and/or YELLOW HEARTS
4. Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday challenge - ANYTHING GOES
5. Retro Rubber - challenge No. 279 - ANYTHING GOES (must use images older than one year)

TGIF peeps, another weekend looms large!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... I sometimes forget how therapeutic I find blending inks, this just reminded me. It was, however, not without issues as I dropped my vintage photo ink pad as I was packing up my ink pads. We crafters hate waste and I did NOT want to start the project again so ... I whipped out my mini ink pad (in ground espresso) and added a few more "corners" to make it look deliberate, what do you think? Did it work?

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in kraft and white
• Distress Inks used: Antique linen, Pumice stone, Tea dye, Vintage photo, Fired brick and Ground espresso - blended with a Tim Holtz mini blender and domed pad
• Once dry, I stamped the Craft Stamper free sentiment (remember those? - I haven't read Craft Stamper in over 5 years so this has to be older than that!) "Tempus fugit" and the Art Impressions clock face (J-2611 - reckon this is 15+ years old) using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Finally, a quick spritz of Crafters Companion Spray and Shine, to protect those water based inks

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Tagalong and ATC's - August challenge - FASHION or ANYTHING GOES
2. The Little Things - challenge No. 07 - MERMAIDS or ANYTHING GOES
3. Retro Rubber - challenge No. 279 - ANYTHING GOES (using older stash) 
4. Crafting Happiness - August challenge - BACK TO SCHOOL or ANYTHING GOES
5. Everybody Art - challenge No. 604 - ANYTHING GOES